Find out how farmers prioritize conservation throughout the year.

April 22, 2018, may be this year’s “official” Earth Day – but for farmers, every day is an opportunity to implement conservation efforts and be excellent stewards of the land on which they live and work.

For example, many farmers care for their land by practicing no-till farming, a technique that relies on limited or no mechanical disking of the soil. No-till farming protects soil from erosion and helps prevent the degradation of organic matter that tilling causes. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the practice can also significantly reduce farmers’ diesel fuel use.

Many farmers use cover crops to cultivate sustainable agriculture, too. Cover crops – or crops grown to provide soil cover in the “off season” – prevent soil erosion by wind and water. Additionally, these crops help add valuable nutrients back into the soil. Crop rotation, also known as the practice of growing a series of different types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons, is another way farmers keep their soil rich in nutrients. This practice also diminishes the accumulation of pathogens and pests that often occurs when one species is continuously cropped. Another benefit of crop rotation is that it can improve soil structure and fertility.

Finally, farmers often employ rotational grazing, a practice that involves controlling where and when livestock graze an area of land and requires moving animals between pastures regularly. This often results in an increase in forage production, soil fertility, and drought resistance.